Five days gives a realistic first look at New York without trying to cover the impossible — this city rewards repeat visits, and accepting you won't see everything is the key to actually enjoying the trip rather than racing through it. Days 1 and 2 cover Midtown and Downtown. Start in Times Square if only to get the obligatory experience out of the way early, then walk the High Line, an elevated park built on a former rail line that gives a different, calmer perspective on the city than street level. The 9/11 Memorial deserves a slow, unhurried visit rather than a quick stop — budget at least two hours if you're also doing the museum. End day two with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at golden hour, timed so you're on the Brooklyn side as the sun sets behind Manhattan's skyline. Day 3 combines two of the city's best experiences with minimal travel between them. Take the early ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island — book the early-morning slot specifically, since both crowds and heat build through the day, and Ellis Island's immigration museum genuinely benefits from unhurried time. In the afternoon, head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art; its collection is large enough that picking two or three wings rather than attempting everything will serve you better. Day 4 is for Brooklyn, a deliberate change of pace from Manhattan's density. DUMBO's waterfront views back toward the Manhattan Bridge are some of the best skyline shots in the city, and the neighbourhood's converted warehouses now house galleries and shops worth a slow afternoon. Williamsburg, a short ride further out, has record shops, vintage stores, and rooftop bars that give a genuinely different feel from tourist-centric Manhattan — finish the day with dinner in nearby Greenpoint. Day 5 moves uptown and into the parks. Rent a bike for a loop of Central Park before the day heats up, then spend an hour or two at the American Museum of Natural History if dinosaurs and space exhibits appeal. Finish your trip at Top of the Rock for sunset — many visitors debate this against the Empire State Building, but Top of the Rock's view includes the Empire State Building itself, which the Empire State's own deck obviously can't offer. A few practical notes: get a MetroCard or use OMNY tap-to-pay directly with a contactless card — you likely won't need a physical card at all anymore. Tipping 15 to 20 percent at restaurants and bars is expected, not optional. And book popular sights like the Statue of Liberty and Top of the Rock several days ahead in peak season, since both regularly sell out same-day slots.